Secretary Of State Gale Offers Tips For Primary Election

LINCOLN – Secretary of State John Gale is outlining some handy tips and tools that voters can use before and on Election Day, May 15.

Check your voter registration and polling place.

You can check the status of your voter registration and location of your polling place by contacting your county election office or logging onto https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/. If you voted early by mail, or have to complete a provisional ballot on Election Day, you can go to that same website to track the status of your ballot.

Change of address.

If you have moved within your county, but have not updated your voter registration, you can still vote. However, you will need to go to your new precinct, in order to obtain a provisional ballot. To identify the polling place for your current address, go tohttps://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/.

Be prepared.

Before going to the polls, make an effort to become aware about the candidates and issues on the ballot. Sample ballots are printed in newspapers and posted on county websites. Mark and take the sample ballot with you to the polling place.

Conduct at the polls.

To maintain proper decorum at the polls, it is requested that you turn off your smart phones and other electronic devices. Phone conversations or loud bell tones can be distracting to others. Ballot selfies are allowed in polling places, however, photos should only be taken of your own ballot and not someone else’s. The privacy of other voters should be respected.

Campaigning prohibited.

Campaign items such as buttons, stickers and T-shirts are not allowed in a polling place. It is illegal to campaign within 200 feet of a polling site. Campaign signs can be installed on private property within 200 feet of a polling site, provided that the property does not include where the polling place is located.

Voter identification.

If you recently registered to vote by mail and did not include identification with your application, you may be asked to provide identification at your polling place. Be sure that it includes your current residence information. Identification at the polling place is not required of other voters.

Early voting ballots.

Up until May 14, the day prior to the election, you can vote early, in person at your county election office. Early ballots sent by mail must be received at the county election office by the close of polls on Election Day. If you have a completed early voting ballot, be sure to turn it in at the county election office prior to the close of polls. In some counties, drop boxes are available as well. Early voting ballots cannot be accepted at a polling site on Election Day.

Provisional ballots.

If you happen to lose a ballot, spoil it or have not received your early ballot by Election Day, you can still vote with a provisional ballot at your polling place. That ballot will be counted once it is confirmed that no other ballots have been cast for you.

Special accommodations and assistance.

If you require special assistance to vote at your polling site, let a poll worker know. Curbside help is available for those who have difficulty walking or utilize assistive devices. Ballot marking devices are available for use with specially designed ballot machines. Those features can also help those with hearing or vision difficulties. Be sure to let a poll worker know what accommodations you might need.